The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-02-09

orcharding. The last paper presented was
an extended essay by Mr.. ID. III. knowlton,
Oh harrington, upon the SUBJECT Notions;
genealogical and Otherwise.
Mr.. Kn0wlton referred to the adaptability
OF Names soil and climate to the growing of
trult In the opening of his essay lie thought
the various agricultural societies OF the State
from the period of their establishment down
TO the present time had greatly advanced the
science OF pomology. He included four top
les in his essay, viz, culture, varieties, mar
ketlng and aesthetics. Under culture he re-
ierred to all the methods used commonly in
the production of perfect fruit. lie did not
give much credit to the tree agents, but
warned the orchardists to shun them. Do
not plant new and untried varieties Tor profit.
de urged the society to interest themselYe S
IN the matter Of freight rates on barrels OF
frult. He advocated more careful arrange
ment of the exhibits in fruit and flowers at
our exhibitions. Our society is a public edu-
Gator, and we should call assistance from
other similar institutions. He referred TO
the Importance of perpetuatlng the forests
OF Maine and urged the observation of ArbOr
Day. lie also advocated the planting of or
namental shrub trees around the lawns and
on school grounds, and suggested that the
society offer premium for the best collec-
ton of flowers grown in the school yards by
the school children. The discussion upon
the matters presented in the papers read was
Nelson, Merrill, Blossom and Whittier.
AT the afternoon session, after calling to
order, Mr.. 5. X. Leland OF harrington read
practical paper. giving his experiences
with those destructive Toes Oh the orchard,
mice and bOrers. Mr.. Leland thought there
were mere fruit trees destroyed by mice and
borers than by all other causes combined.
be had sometimes used sOrrel, which was
abundant in the land, as mulch, and had
no trouble with mice in that year. He had
m tha fbaf mica will oot
the bark of trees from preference, but to sus-
tain life when everything else fails. They
Will eat grain in preference to bark, and ae-
cordingly he furnishes them an amount of
grain sufficient to keep them away from the
trees, believing it to pay in the end. He
throws the grain in the hollows, and the
mice always collect there. He has also used
tarred paper, but found 1t to be no prOtec-
ton. He had lost no trees from borers. If
any preventive used has been Of value it is
wood ashes. The trunk b0rer bothered him
some. He removes the bark of the affected
tree and puts on thin coating of grating
wax.
The next paper presented was by Mr.. W.
p. Anterior of Hallowell. Mr.. Anterior
gave practical talk on his own experience
Cleaned in the practical work of his orchard
He believed that there were some points
which were of especial value to orchardists
They should only plant such varieties as had
been thoroughly tried and proved by their
OMu Dl6NlOuS III. DOH NAV
differ in neighboring localities and the state
ments of others in relation to variety Of
apple should be given but little acceptation
Mr.. Anterior also ADVOCATED the setting Of
the different varieties by themselves, beliey-
ing this systematic arrangement produced
trees more healthy and of greater longevity.
He believed that no special rule could be
laid down as regards pruning or training
young trees. but thought these points should
be governed by the amount of time at COM
mand. lie believed q medium height in
training to be better than an extremely low
or high one. After the reading of these pa
pers but little time remained for discussion,
What was said by the few gentlemen who
spoke related mainly to the sorting, packing
and marketing Of apples, and it was the
opinion OF those who had had largest expe-
rience that when apples were stored in the
cellar in winter, they kept better in large
bins than in barrels. Mulching was dis
countenanced as Of little value in giving fer
tility to trees AS to situation for an orch
ard, northerly slope was recommended.
The attendance at the evening meeting
was very large. Two piano Duets were fur
nished by Mrs. McCleary and Miss Allen and
Prof Purington rendered fine musical Sc
lection. The program was carried out as an
nT9unced, consisting Of an essay by Mrs. G.
W.Keyes of Pennington on the 'Value Of a
knowledge Of the Natural Sciences to the
Farmer" thoughtful, well written paper,
which was finely deliveIed-and a poem,
The Old and the New" by Mr.. G. A. Mace
Of Readfeld, pleasing production that was
well received, giving variety to the evening
entertainment.
Various committees made theii reports on
topics of business, which were accepted.
Complimentary votes of thanks to the rail-
roads and citizens of Pennington were pre-
scented.
The exhibition of fruit which was made in
connection with this meeting was the largest
ever presented at any winter meeting of the
society. More than 800 plates Of fruit were
shown by % or 30 of the leading fruit grow
| ers Of this section. Among those making the
| largest exhibits were G. K. Staples, Temple,
80 varieties: d. Z. True, Leeds, 6 varieties
| apples, of peas; p Written, Pennington
Falls, % varieties. j. Pope & Son, Manches-
ter, IA varieties; S. r. Leland, Pennington,
| varieties; b. III. Ridley, Jay, 10 varieties
| b. w. Brown, Wilton, 10 Varieties; o. c.
| Nelson, New Gloucester, varieties; S. r.
| Sweetzer, Cumberland Centre, IS varieties
| Q. G. Cushman, is varieties; w. w. Rodbird
| % varieties.
Thus closed one of the largest, most inter
esting and mostprofitable meetings the socie-
| ty has ever held. The society is doing q
| splendid work in encouraging one of the
most important industries Of our agriculture,
and should receive the support of all Maine
fruit growers.